The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
The Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison (GMUG) National Forests announce the reopening of National Forest System Road (NFSR) #839–Alpine Tunnel Road following the completion of a multi-year reconstruction project to restore the Palisade Wall.
Visitors hoping to access the Alpine Tunnel Historic District should park near the junction of the Alpine Tunnel Road and National Forest System Trail (NFST) #298–Williams Pass trail and hike the remaining mile to the West Portal Complex. A large boulder currently blocks access to the parking area at the Alpine Tunnel West Portal. The boulder is located approximately 12 miles up the road from the junction with NFSR #765. Please be aware the road beyond the Williams Pass junction has limited space for vehicles to turn around.
“We appreciate the public’s patience as we take the time to ensure the boulder is safely and appropriately removed,” said Gunnison district ranger Dayle Funka. “Given the incredible work that has been completed to rebuild the Palisade Wall, we wanted to reopen the road as soon as we could so the public could resume visiting the historic district.”
In 2016, an avalanche damaged the Palisade Wall and closed the Alpine Tunnel Road. The Gunnison Ranger District, the National Forest Foundation and local partners leveraged state and private funding along with funding from the Great American Outdoors Act to restore the wall and reopen the road. Restoration work began in 2022.
Workers first completed rock scaling above the Palisade Wall section to help ensure worker safety. Last year, a team of rock masonry craftsmen shaped approximately 70 capstones and 60 wall stones for the restoration of the wall. This summer, construction crews successfully excavated the collapsed area and rebuilt the wall and adjacent roadway.
The closure order for the Alpine Tunnel historic area has been rescinded and the public can again travel on NFSR #839–Alpine Tunnel Road, NFSR #767.1B and NFST’s #888, #298 and #539 as shown on the 2017 Motor Vehicle Use Map. The map is available on the GMUG website or at local ranger district offices.
